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The International Credential Highway. Building Blocks for Successful Review and Verification of International Documentation Judith Haccou, Director Graduate Admissions Tifany Ferguson, Degree Progress Manager. Graduate Admissions – Stanford University. Decentralized Admissions Process
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The International Credential Highway Building Blocks for Successful Review and Verification of International Documentation Judith Haccou, Director Graduate Admissions Tifany Ferguson, Degree Progress Manager
Graduate Admissions – Stanford University • Decentralized Admissions Process • 65 + graduate departments and professional Schools • Establish application deadlines • Receive applications and supporting documents • Offer admission and financial aid
Graduate Admissions - Stanford University • Graduate Admissions, Office of the University Registrar • Respond to questions from prospective degree and non-degree seeking graduate students, Stanford staff and faculty in the 65 + graduate departments and 3 professional schools • Provide publications for prospective applicants and admitted students • Manage the on-line application for 65+ graduate departments
Graduate Admissions – Stanford University • For students who have accepted admission • Issue initial visa certifications • Authorize enrollment upon verification of academic credentials
Statistics: Autumn 2008 • Applied: 33,557 (International: 11,272) • Admitted: 4,330 (International: 1,422) • New Enrolled: 2,382 (International: 824)
International Credential Highway • How do we stay on track with the high speeds that encompass the International Credential Highway? • Stay up to date with the ever changing educational systems and corresponding documentation • Ensure that the application dossier is complete and authentic • Proactive and consistent evaluation of international academic credentials • Clear communication
International Credential Highway: Road Blocks verses Building Blocks Knowledge ROAD BLOCKS Communication Self-Assessments Fraudulent Documents
Road Block - Knowledge • Time consuming to stay on top of constant changes • Budget constraints for professional conference attendance • Web sources not always dependable or accurate
Road Block - Communication • 3 general populations that Stanford engages with: • 1. Prospective Students/Accepted Students • 2. Campus Constituents • 3. International Institutions
Road Block- Communication with Prospective/Accepted Students • We do not provide preliminary evaluation of credentials for potential admission • Not feasible to provide and maintain degree guidelines for each country and type of institution • Language barriers • Self-assessment of degree to US equivalency
Road Block- Communication with Campus Constituents • Resources provided may not be utilized appropriately • Staff turnover
Road Block- Communication with International Institutions • Institutions do not always respond to verification inquiries • Difficulty determining who to contact • Language barriers
Road Block – Self Assessments & Fake Degrees • Self Assessments • Translations • Academic institution attestations that mimic official degree certification • Degree Equivalency to U.S. degree • Who should they come from? • Fake Degrees • Ongoing technological advancement increases difficulty
International Credential Highway Knowledge BUILDING BLOCKS Communication Knowledge Self-Assessments Fraudulent Documents
Building Block - Knowledge • Time – • Establish internal reference library • Budget constraints – • Internal skill development • Local networking
Building Block - Knowledge • Web Sources • AACRAO Edge • World Education Services (WES) • International Association of Universities • International Education Resource Foundation (The New Country Index, Making Sense of International Credentials) • Publications • The Chronicle of Higher Education • International Handbook of Universities • AACRAO
Building Block - Communications • 1. Prospective /accepted students • 2. Campus constituents • 3. International institutions
Building Block – Communication with Prospective/Accepted Students • Provide clear and consistent minimum eligibility guidelines through • University web page • Publications • Email correspondence
Building Block – Communication with Prospective/Accepted Students • To be eligible for graduate study at Stanford, applicants must meet one of the following guidelines: • Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association; or • Completion of an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing
Building Block- Communication with Accepted Students • Contingency statement in offer letter • All offers of admission are contingent upon verification of the fulfillment of admission requirements by Graduate Admissions, Office of the University Registrar • Publications • Email notification • Student self-service portal “to do” list
Building Block – Communication with Campus Constituents • Monthly meetings • Group training sessions • Presentations • Email • Publications
Building Block – Communication with International Institutions • Verification Inquiries • Use appropriate terminology depending on country and/or institution • Transcript request form • Collaboration with Stanford students and faculty
Building Block – Self Assessments & Fake Degrees Establish Standardized Evaluation Approach to Credential Evaluation The Stanford Approach
Stanford Approach: R.A.P Review Applications Proactively • Arrange documents in chronological order • Verify bio-demo data • Verify educational history
Stanford Approach: R.A.P. Review Applications Proactively • Credentials are accepted as official only when they are issued by authorized educational institution • Determine if degree meets established institution admission requirement • Use Knowledge & Communication Building Blocks: • Refer to internal library, web resources and published references
Building Block- Self Assessments and Fake Degrees • Trust your instincts! • If needed, ask for verification • Contact institution and request verification of credential • If in doubt, direct the applicant to a NAACES Credential Evaluation Service • Train your campus constituents to be on the look out for fake documents • Never rush an evaluation